Two months and a day away from entering his second season as Naperville Central’s quarterback, Conor Joyce can already sense a difference.
Asked to manage the offense a year ago as a junior with Kevin Clifford residing in the backfield, Joyce led the then-defending Class 8A state champions to a state quarterfinal appearance.
But with Clifford and his 1,571 rushing yards and 11 TDs gone to graduation, Joyce knows full well responsibility shifts to him in a big way.
The Redhawks’ second-place finish in Wheaton Warrenville South’s prestigious Red Grange 7-on-7 tournament allowed Joyce an opportunity to show off his improved wares.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” he said. “Obviously, without Kevin in the backfield, it’s a tough loss for the offense. But we’re just working with the guys we got and we seem to be coming close together with the receivers.
“I’m just trying to make the plays that are open for me because I know I’m probably going to have to make a few more without Kevin this year.”
After going 5-0 in pool play on Thursday, Naperville Central won seven straight elimination games on Friday before falling to Wheaton North, 15-14, in the final.
“We played 10 games (on Friday),” Redhawks’ coach Mike Stine wrote in a text. “That might be a record. We played seven straight games no breaks. That’s what happens when you lose in round two and then have to battle your way they the loser’s bracket. Our guys were exhausted. But they battled all day.”
As a junior for an eight-win team last year, Joyce completed 58 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns while running for 164 yards and six TDs.
Joyce’s connection with Emmanuel Rugamba is already well known, evidenced by Rugamba’s 27 receptions for 298 yards and three TDs last year.
But the rapport he’s building with Jeremiah Wiggins, Matt Lehmann and Jordan Crissy, may prove to be as vital to the Redhawks’ success in 2015.
The trio of Crissy, Wiggins and Lehmann look to fill the void left by the graduation of Michael Kolzow, who’s now with Jake Kolbe at Illinois State.
Crissy didn’t play last year but was Joyce’s top target on the sophomore level in 2013 and Wiggins is a senior transfer from Aurora Christian.
“(Crissy) is going to be the other outside guy, along with Manny,” Joyce said. “Just another big target. He can go up and get the ball. Jeremiah Wiggins is probably going to be doing a little bit of running back along with slot receiver. Like play with (Luke) Brady, as well. But another guy. Very shifty, can move and make a lot of good plays for us.”
The addition of the three 204 schools into the DuPage Valley Conference this fall probably gives the conference a legitimate case for being the best in the state of Illinois.
A year ago, the Redhawks shared the DVC title with Wheaton Warrenville South and has designs on winning their first outright conference title since 2001.
With a road game at Glenbard North in Week 1 on Aug. 28 and home games following with Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley, a good start for Naperville Central is paramount.
“I think, especially now with the schools added, I think there’s no question now that the DVC’s the hardest conference in the state,” Joyce said. “But we love it, though. We love the challenge each week. I think it makes us a better team. Some people say that it’s stupid because it can cause injuries. But us, as a program, we enjoy it. We like the competition each week and ultimately, if we get the job done, it would get us ready for the postseason.
“But it’s definitely going to be a challenge this year. There’s no easy games. Each one’s going to be tough. It’s going to make each week more fun and more competitive, which we like.”
